St. Louis classical calendar for the week of February 10, 2020

Love is in the air this week, especially at the Chamber Music Society and the Touhill.

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The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis

The Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents Lovefest Rides Again, a concert of Romantic music for Valentine's Day week, Monday and and Tuesday at 7:30 pm. The performances take place at the Sheldon Concert Hall in Grand Center. For more information: chambermusicstl.org.

Eliot Unitarian Chapel presents a Friends of Music concert on Sunday, February 16, at 3 pm. Baritone Robert McNichols, Jr. and pianist Rebecca Koebbe will perform Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe, Op. 48 and cellist Beverly Field and pianist Toni Pearson will play Beethoven's Cello Sonata in G minor, Op. 5, no. 2. The concert takes place at Eliot Unitarian Chapel is at 100 South Argonne in Kirkwood. For more information: fomcstl.org.

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus

The St. Louis Chamber Chorus presents Einstein Considered Light as Waves on Sunday, February 16, at 3 pm. " Join the Chamber Chorus for music exploring the motif of light. The title comes from an extraordinary piece by the Anglo-Bulgarian composer Dobrinka Tabakova, who is fast becoming a major figure in choral music in Europe. Other pieces include The Music of Light by the late Steven Stucky and part-songs by Robert Schumann, Randall Thompson and Valborg Aulin. The Chorus is also honored to present the world premiere of a piece commissioned for Sarah Bryan Miller, long-time classical music critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. This new work is a gift from a consortium of music programs in gratitude for her tireless efforts to promote vocal arts in St. Louis." The church is at 4501 Westminster Place in the Central West End. For more information: secondchurch.net.

Ben Folds joins The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on Thursday and Friday, February 13 and 14, at 7:30. “Top indie rock sensation Ben Folds is back by popular demand after sold-out performances in 2017. A champion for orchestras, Folds blends pop and classical music to highlight the beauty of orchestra music, creating an engaging concert experience. Treat your special someone this Valentine's Day weekend while Ben Folds serenades for this one-of-a-kind performance, featuring fan-favorites and orchestral arrangements with the SLSO.” Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 North Grand in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

Rafael Payare
Photo courtesy of the SLSO

Rafael Payare conducts The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, along with violinist Baiba Skride on Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 3 pm, February 15 and 16. The program consists Sofia Gubaidulina's Offertorium for violin and orchestra as well as Bruckner's Symphony No. 7. Performances take place at Powell Symphony Hall in Grand Center. For more information: stlsymphony.org.

The Touhill Performing Arts Center presents presents The Arianna String Quartet and the St. Louis Ballet in Could This Be Love? on Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and Sunday at 2:30 pm, February 14-16. "The program features “The American”, a ballet by Tony Award-_Winning director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon, known to audiences _from An American in Paris on Broadway. One of today's most lauded_ choreographers, Wheeldon set the ballet to Dvorak's String Quartet #12 in F_ Major, Op. 96." The Touhill Center is on the campus of the University of Missouri at St. Louis. For more information: touhill.org.